Rail-joint.



0. '3. THOMAS. 'RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION vmen mm. 11. ms.

Patented Apr. 25,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- II .1 E v 1 I II I", F 19 I I auuemm 0- F5. THOMHS 0. B. THOMAS.

RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED- 1104.17. I916.

Patente 1'. 25, 1916.

2 S TSSHEET 2- OTIS B. THOMAS, 0F LOWELL, ARIZONA. I

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters'Patent. I,

Patented a nea, iaie.

Application filed January 17, 1916. Serial No. 72,552;

ments in rail joints, and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character having novel and 111iproved means whereby no interference is offered to the expansion or contraction of the rails.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a rail joint having novel and improved means whereby an effective connection is afforded and whereby pounding as the rolling stock passes over the oint is substantially entirely eliminated.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my i proved rail joint whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, 1 will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a rail joint constructed in accordance with an em bodiment of my invention, the locking member or sleeve fish plate being shown in inoperative position Fig. is a view in top plan of my improved rail oint as herein embodied, the locking member or sleeve fisli plate being shown in operative position; Fig. 3 is a view in perspective detached of the locking member or sleeve fish plate as herein included; Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of one of the meeting rail ends comprised in my rail joint as herein embodied; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 2; and Fig. (3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6( of Fig. 2, with an adjacent portion of a tie shown in fragment.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 11 denote the meeting ends of rails and as the formation of said ends is the same, a detailed description of one is thought to be sufficient. As herein embodied, each of the rail ends 1 is provided with a longitudinally disposed extension comprising a lateral half of the rail proper and adapted to overlap the corresponding extension of the second rail end and whereby it will be perceived that pounding as the rollin stock passes over the joint is. substantially.

entirely eliminated. Each of the extensions 2 is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 3 and in longitudinal alinement therewith and arranged in advance thereof is the opening 4. The opening 4 has disposed therethrough the tubular shank 5 of a headed member 6, said tubular shank being also disposed, when the joint is assembled,

through the elongated slot 3 of the coaoting rail end 1. In threaded engagement with the tubular member 6 is the shank 7 of the headed member 8. B this arrangement, it will be perceived that the slots 3 permit longitudinal movement of the rail ends 1-l in either direction in order to compensate for the contraction or expansion of the rails.

' The heads 6 and 8 are arranged at opposite sides of the extensions 2 when the joint is assembled and are adapted to be received within the dove-tail grooves 9 disposed longitudinally of the side plates 10, said plates being-integrally connected with the chair 11 upon which the meeting ends 11 are adapted'to rest, as is believed to be clearly shown in the accompanying drawings, said side plates 10 and chair ll affording a sleeve fish plate which is readily slidable longitudinally of the rails 1. The lapped or scarfed joint may be of any size desired but in every instance I desire it to be understood that the sleeve fish plate is of a length not less than three times the length of the lapped or scarfed joint, as in practice l have found that with this arrangement, a maximum of strength is afforded. While I have herein disclosed the slots 9- as extending the entire length of the side plates 10, it will also be understood that they may be of any length which will meet the requirements of practice. It is to be observed that in the present embodiment of my invention, the plates 10 overlie the flanges 12 of the rails 1 and contact therewith and also underlie the heads 14 of the tain the lapped or scarfed joint firmly together, it will also be readily understood that said headed members also serve to effectively hold and support the sleeve fish plate in operative position.

In order to maintain the plates 10 against creeping, I provide said plates adjacent' their lower edges with the openings 19 and in oblique alinement therewith I provide the chair 11 with the openings 16 arranged inwardly of the lower margins of the plates 10 through which the lag screws 17 are disposed and operatively engaged with the supporting tie T. It is to be observed that the screws 17 are disposed on such an angle as to be received within the elongated notches 18 formed in the free longitudinal edges of the flanges 12 of the rails 1 so that said screws will afford no interference to the expansion orcontraction of the rails, said notches or recesses being of a minimum length equal to the length of the slots 3, hereinbefore referred to.

' From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a rail joint con-- structed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and'facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice. I

I claim:

1."A' rail joint comprising the meeting ends of rails provided with overlapping extensions, each of said extensions being provided with a longitudinally disposed slot, a headed'member carried by one extension and disposed through the slot of the second. extension, and a fish plate overlying the meeting ends of the rails and provided with I a longitudinally disposed slot to receive the head of the headed member.

2. A rail joint comprising the meeting ends of rails provided with overlapping extensions, each of said extensions being provided with a longitudinally disposed slot, a headed member carried by one extension and disposed through the slot of the second extension, and a fish plate overlying the meet ing ends of the rails and provided with a longitudinally disposed .slot. to receive the head of the headed member, said slot being dove-tail in cross section.

3. A rail joint comprising the meeting ends of rails provided with overlapping extensions, each of said extensions being provided with a longitudinally disposed slot, a headed member carried by one extension and disposed through the slot of the second extension, a fish plate overlying the meeting ends of the rails and provided with a longitudinally disposed slot to receive the head of the headed member, and an anchoring member directed through the fish plate and adapted to engage a tie, the flange of the rail adjacent the anchoring member being provided with an elongated recess through which the anchoring member is directed.

4.-A rail joint comprising the meeting ends of rails having overlapping extensions, each of the extensions being provided with a longitudinally disposed slot, a member disposed through each of the extensions in advance of the slot thereof and having its ("mosite ends headed, and connected fish plates overlying the opposite sides of the meeting ends of the rails and rovided with longitudinally disposed grooves to receive the heads of themembers.

5. A rail joint comprising the meeting ends of rails having overlapping extensions, each of the extensions being provided with a longitudinally disposed slot. :1 member disposed through each of the extensions in advance. of the slot thereof and having its opposite ends headed, connected fish plates overlving the o osite sides of the meeting ends of the rails and provided with longitudinally disposed grooves to receive the heads of the members. and means for holding the plates against movement longitudinallv of the Tails.

6. A rail joint comprising the meeting ends of rails provided with overlapping extensions, each of said extensions being pro vided with a longitudinally disposed slot, a headed member carried by each extension and disposed through the slot of the second extension. a sleeve fish plate slidably mounted upon the rails and adapted to bridge the lapped joint afforded by the extensions, the inner faces of said sleeve being provided with grooves to receive the heads of the headed members whereby said sleeve is firmly held in applied position.

inner faces of said sleeve being provided In testimony whereof ll hereunto affix my with grooves to receive the heads of the signature in the presence of two witnesses. headed members whereby said sleeve is firmly held in applied position, said sleeve OTIS B. THOMAS. 5 being of a length not less than three times Witnesses:

the length of the lapped joint ali'orded by JACK FRAME,

the extensions. KIRK E. JAooBs. 

